Asus ROG Strix Scar X3D evaluation: AMD’s new chip is a game-changer

AMD, just some weeks in the past, introduced the brand new Ryzen 9 7945HX3D, a chip with 16 cores, 32 threads, increase clock as much as 5.4GHz, 55W-plus TDP, and a whopping 144MB of whole cache. The corporate claimed it might be the “world’s quickest cell gaming processor.” This processor, AMD insisted, would ship an unparalleled gaming expertise.

Effectively, I’ve now acquired the processor in hand. It’s situated in Asus’ ROG Strix Scar X3D, a huge 17-inch laptop computer bedecked with RGB. And folk, I’m seeing some completely ridiculous numbers from this factor. This Scar is consuming Intel for lunch. It’s so far out of the league of every other gaming laptop computer I’ve ever reviewed.

Now, this system (which additionally consists of 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, an Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, and a 240Hz QHD display) is $3,699.99. Like most of the world’s high gaming laptops, it’s a luxurious buy. For fairly just a few customers, this will probably be a type of merchandise that’s extra of an announcement than a viable purchase. And the assertion, on this case, is one all of us type of assumed was true the second that AMD introduced this chip: Intel is at risk.

That is, indisputably, the very best gaming efficiency you will get in as we speak’s laptop computer market. These numbers are a great deal larger than I’ve ever seen. The X3D is thrashing MSI’s Titan GT77 HX, a dearer RTX 4090 machine with Intel’s flagship Core i9-13980HX, by as a lot as 20 p.c on the titles examined right here. That’s a degree of efficiency distinction that you just would possibly anticipate to see from a GPU improve, not from merely the CPU alone.

Evidently, that is the laptop computer you wish to be on should you’re fascinated by gaming at QHD decision. For those who’re in a position to pay for it, you’re mainly paying to by no means have to fret about settings, resolutions, or body charges on most fashionable video games.

That Counter-Strike: International Offensive quantity, by the way in which, isn’t a typo. It’s not one thing that can matter on this 240Hz show, however it’s such a hilariously larger body fee than I’ve seen any gaming laptop computer put up on any sport ever that I simply needed to embody it right here.

One of many major causes these numbers are so enormous is AMD’s 3D V-Cache. The X3D chip is the primary cell processor to characteristic this expertise, and it really has extra cache than AMD’s desktop X3D lineup presently does.

Cache, for the uninitiated, is high-speed reminiscence that lives on the CPU. It may be accessed in a short time. I like to think about it because the CPU’s pocket; if one thing the chip wants is saved in its cache, it doesn’t have to go digging round for it over within the system’s RAM. However cache can be like a pocket in that it could actually’t maintain very a lot. It’s measured in megabytes in these kinds of units, the place reminiscence is measured in gigabytes.

3D V-Cache permits AMD to stack extra cache onto the CPU. This will make a giant distinction for gaming laptops as a result of video games, specifically, require CPUs to course of information in a short time. Cache doesn’t make as massive of a distinction in workplace work and different kinds of productiveness duties, which matches to emphasise that the X3D isn’t one thing you have to be shopping for to make use of in an workplace. Like the remainder of the Strix line, it’s as “gaming laptop computer” as gaming laptops get. It’s for video games and solely video games. (It’s over six kilos, in spite of everything, and virtually a full inch thick. I carried it to and from the workplace in a backpack, and my again didn’t thank me for it.)

The Strix Scar makes use of Asus’ ROG Clever Cooling system, which is a motley crew of Conductonaut Excessive thermal paste, a vapor chamber that covers 43.3 p.c of the motherboard, 84-blade followers, 4 heatsinks, 0.1mm fins, and anti-dust tunnels. Everybody did an outstanding job (and the enormous chassis definitely helps). All through my gaming, the CPU stayed very comfortably within the mid-80s (Celsius) with solely very occasional spikes upward. I by no means felt any type of warmth within the keyboard. In fact, that is in an oversize laptop computer with plenty of room for all of this cooling equipment — we’ll must see how straightforward it’s to chill the brand new X3D chip in smaller 15-inch gaming laptops, each time these arrive.

It is possible for you to to listen to the followers at work should you use the Turbo cooling profile (which, in fact, I did — come on now). Contemplating that they’re cooling a few of the beefiest laptop computer elements available on the market proper now, I’d say that’s not sudden. Happily, the Silent profile is there for you should you’d choose a extra serene gaming expertise.

This large display. I hate having to hold 17-inch laptops round, however boy do I really like taking a look at a 17-inch display. It does have 2560 x 1440 decision, which is — sure — the dreaded 16:9 facet ratio, however that doesn’t tremendous matter on a display this large.

The panel covers one hundred pc of the sRGB gamut, 87 p.c of Adobe RGB, and 99 p.c of P3. It’s brighter than common for a gaming laptop computer, maxing out at 368 nits in testing.

In the end, the video games look good — and there’s a dizzying array of shade profiles so that you can select from in Asus’ Armoury Crate software program.

All of the ports you want. Large laptops have plenty of room for ports. You get two USB-A on the left. The again crams in two USB-C, an HDMI, an ethernet, and an influence port. I type of hate having to achieve round and plug issues into the rear, however I begrudgingly settle for that it’s a versatile place for them to be. The X3D additionally helps 2.5G LAN and Wi-Fi 6E. The 2 USB-C each assist G-Sync, and one helps 100W energy supply.

I do suppose it’d be good to have some ports on the proper aspect. I think about some individuals would possibly wish to stick a mouse in there or have a monitor that’s exhausting to maneuver or one thing.

I’d kind on this keyboard all day. I do know I say this on a regular basis about ROG gaming rigs, however that is severely among the finest keyboards I’ve examined this yr. The keys have a snug texture, and their form appears to suit my fingers completely. They’ve an extremely satisfying bounce. They’re very quiet. There’s a numpad on the proper aspect, and I’ve been going out of my approach to discover events to make use of it as a result of the keys are so easy and comfy to press.

In fact, no Strix can be full with out per-key RGB lighting. The X3D’s is stylish and pretty even. Together with a not-at-all-subtle mild strip that runs alongside the underside, the keyboard ensures a colourful surroundings — if that’s what you’re into.

The webcam is dangerous. It’s a grainy 720p affair. I imply, the final Strix I reviewed didn’t have a webcam in any respect, so I’m glad to see that we’re making progress. However nonetheless — $3699.99, 720p, in 2023.

Battery life… effectively. That is no Zephyrus. I acquired three and a half hours of basic (non-gaming) workplace use from this system earlier than it died. (This was completed on Silent mode, medium brightness, Battery Saver on.) That is the place MSI’s Titan GT77 has a slight benefit, as that laptop computer has a much bigger battery than the X3D does; I noticed about an hour and a half extra utilization day trip of the MSI. That mentioned, should you’re shopping for one in every of these huge six-pound computer systems and are basing your resolution on battery life, I believe you have to, like, go for a swim or one thing to clear your head.

The excellent news is that the X3D did ship a stable 54 minutes of battery gaming (Crimson Useless Redemption 2). The sport was so playable, with nary a stutter for the entire length, that I used to be really startled when it abruptly went black. The included 330W charger additionally juiced the X3D pretty rapidly, reaching 60 p.c in simply 37 minutes.

AMD did it. It introduced 3D V-Cache to the cell house, and it made the Strix Scar X3D a blisteringly highly effective laptop computer that blows the competitors out of the water.

For many who have $3,700 readily available, the calculus ought to be fairly easy: purchase the X3D if body charges are your sole precedence and also you need the very best of the very best. The minute you begin to care about different stuff (specifically, battery life, portability, or any semblance of webcam high quality), you’ll in all probability wish to look elsewhere.

Personally, I’m extra fascinated by what the X3D represents to the gaming laptop computer house. When testing this, I used to be reminded of the time after I was testing the ROG Zephyrus G14 again in 2020. I keep in mind checking these numbers repeatedly. AMD had shattered our understanding of what a gaming laptop computer might do. And I believe it could have simply completed that once more.